KEY POINTS:
A finding that a quarter of New Zealand's homes could be making people ill shows why the Government should retain a $1 billion insulation fund, the Green Party says.
The Business Council for Sustainable Development commissioned a survey of 3526 people which found poor insulation and inefficient homes caused widespread suffering, with 26 per cent of those surveyed saying their homes had made one member of the family sick.
Only 29 per cent said their homes were very warm or comfortable, while 59 per cent said their homes were warm, but could be better.
The survey confirmed earlier studies showing 16 per cent of homes had no insulation at all, 71 per cent had uninsulated walls, 64 per cent had no underfloor insulation and only 29 per cent of ceilings had been fully insulated.
This meant of 1 million of 1.6 million homes were not adequately insulated.
The Green Party got the previous Labour government to agree to the 15-year $1 billion household insulation scheme - The Green Homes Fund - in return for the Greens' support for legislation enacting an emissions trading scheme (ETS).
It was to be funded through profits recycled from state-owned power companies as a result of the ETS.
National said that it had not been properly costed and would not go ahead.
Green Party Health Spokesperson Kevin Hague today said the survey showed the fund was desperately needed.
"The benefits are clear. For every dollar spent on insulating cold houses, there is close to a two dollar benefit in energy and health savings. This means less time off work, less time off school and a better quality of life," he said.
He called on National to rethink his position.
"This home insulation fund would upgrade our housing stock, cut energy bills and generate jobs to keep Kiwis working.
"National have tried to create fear and uncertainty about a possible power crisis but nearly half of the $1 billion... would be recouped in a single year in energy savings."
National had developed its own suite of energy efficiency policies which included putting $15 million a year more into insulated state homes, a $35 million a year solar heating subsidy and $10 million a year to help councils assist low-income householders with cleaner heating options.
The policies came from a mixture of existing baselines and the following year's new spending allowances and had been properly accounted for in National's economic plan.
The Business Council for Sustainable Development recommended there be a mandatory home performance rating system to apply to all new and existing homes when they were rented or sold.
Other measures included:
* linking government accommodation supplements to homes that have an adequate rating performance, and consideration of paying a rent supplement to landlords with good performing homes;
* reducing consenting delays for innovative designs for better performing homes;
* education on what options were available and training for the renovation industry; and
* finance packages for home performance improvements that could be paid back through energy savings or reclaimed from an owner's estate.
- NZPA
